Frank tager



Jan. 27, 1931. F. TAGER Y 1,790,332

EXCHANGEABLE RESILIENT HEEL Filed'May 9, 1928 Suva/nto@ f/M/v/f TAM/f,

@5% /7/5 @umg/@ Patented Jan.27, 1931 FRANK TAGERQOF NEW YOR'K, N.V Y.

EXCHANGEABLE RESILIEN'I" HEEL Application filed VMay 9,

This invention relates to resilient heels, commonly known as rubber heels, and has for its object to provide a heel of this character wherein the topmost layer of the same ex- 5 posed to direct wear is madeexchangeable.

Another object ot this invention is to provide a deviceV or" the character mentioned which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and wherein the en- 10 changeable top layer may be easily applied or removed and exchanged by a new one by any ordinary person.

Other objects ot the invention will be apparent as the specification of the saine proceeds. y

Features of the invention include a perinanent layer secured to the heel of a shoe and inade of hard rubber material, having a dovetail shaped ridge or web rising out of its 20 center from one end oi"- the same to a portion of its longitudinal center axis, .and a softer resilient outer layer for the heel having a corresponding dovetail recess whereby it may be pushed over and be secured in position on r said permanent layer. Further securing means may also be applied between the said two layers of my novel heel and corresponding rounded beads and grooves may also be arranged in the coacting sliding surfaces of4 the dovetail elements whereby they will be stronger bound to one another when in position.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of` my improved heel with portions of the shoe to which it is applied, y

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the same,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my novel heel,

Fig. 4 is a bottoni view of it, the exchangen able outside layer being only partly pushed into position7 5 is a similar bot-tom view of a modification of my invention, and

. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the permanent or inside layer of my novel heel in said modied form, the said layer-*being shown in an inverted position for the sake ot clearness.

192s. serial No. 276,268.

Referring `nou7 more 'closely to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a portion ot a shoe to which my novel heel is applied, my invention being" represented in general by the character 11. 'lhe shoe has the regular sole 5 12 to which is Vsecured the inner or stationary' heel unit 13 ot my device4 by nails, or by anyV other usual means( Said inner heel unit is preferably made of very hard rubber, but Vmay be formed of anyother suitable hard materi al which is adapted to retain its resistance and shape even under the strain of pressure'exerted thereon while the exchangeable or outersofter rubber heel unit 14 of my invention isV pushed into position `thereon or pulled oit the same, as will be more fullyv explained presently. Said lower or inner heel unit 18 has also to be made of such material that While it will have trictional resistance between'it and the outer rubber unit 14, it will P be adapted to be formed toexact dimensions and to be tinished by grinding or other means to a. necessary eXactness, it so desired.

Centrally the heel unit 13 is formed with an upstanding Web or ridge 15 of a dovetail 7" cross section, starting from the inner edge 16 ot1 said unit and extending to the greater portion ot the length of said unit 13 but not fully to its outer or heel end 17. A. tapped bore k 1S may also be provided in said web or ridge 90 15.

rlhc outer heel unit 11i which is the rubber heel proper of my device and takes the place ofthe so called rubber heels now in use, is made of any of the customary softer rubber materials and has a dovetail recess 19 formed l in the center thereof, corresponding in size.A shape and length to the dovetail ridge 15 and intended to cooperate therewith. 1.

A. countersunk hole 2O is provided in theA outer'unit 141, being in alignment With-thc bore 18 when `the two units are placed in a position to fully' cover each other, as shown in the Figs. V1 to 8, and a sunken screw 21 may be threaded into the bore 18 to further secure 95 the twounits to one another.

iVhen it is desired to provide a shoe with my improved elastic or rubber heel, the permanent or inner'unit 13 of the same will Iirst be secured to the heel portion 22 of the shoe, 100

the same being reduced in height to necessity, so as not to make an excessive high heel when the two units of my device will be applied thereto; or preferably, the unit 13 being secured directly to the rest of the shoe, my two units comprising the whole heel.

The said permanent or inner unit 13 will remain on the shoe as long as the same is worn or lasts and it even may thereafter be removed trom the said shoe and transferred to another shoe of similar make and size.

On this stationary unit is applied the outer unit, or rubber heel proper 14e, by simply pulling its recess 18 over the ridge 15 as will be understood. For a more secure binding action between the two and to insure the exchangeable layer 14: against wobbling, the recess may be somewhat narrower than the width of the rib, so that it will have to be forced thereon and the rubber material therearound compressed. then the two units are in exact alignment, screw 21 may be applied as an added fastening means between the two units.

After the outer unit or layer 14 is worn to the possible limit, it may be renewed by simply unscrewing the element 21, pulling the worn unit 14 oif the web 15 and replacingl it by an identical new one in the manner described.

The two sides ot the web 15 as well as of the recess 18 may be in parallelism, or they may converge as shown, at 15 and 18 of Fig. el, where the web and recess are shown as tapering towards the outer ends of the heel in order that the unit 14 may easier be pulled over onto Vthe unit 13 or be pulled ott therefrom.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form of my invention is illustrated. Upper and inner units 14a and 13a are shaped generally in a similar manner to those described hereinabove, but the ridge 15a et the unit 13a shows a plurality of preferably semicircular grooves 23 in its two sides Q-i. '.l`he exchange able unit lei has a plurality o'l` rounded lbeads 25 in the sides ot its recess 18, corresponding in distance, size and number to the grooves Then the exchangeable unit 14a is forced over the inner unit 13a, as described hereinbetore.y the beads with the adjacent portions of the unit 14a. will be compressed and slide .over the sides 24 of the ridge 15a until every bead will find its groove and the two units are firmly tied together in exact alignment.

This exchangeable rubber heel I consider broadly new, and hence, capable ot' taking many forms within the scope ot my invention.

What I `claim as new, is

In an exchangeable resilient heel, having an inner permanent layer of comparatively hard material, and an outside removable layer ot resilient material, a dovetail connection between the two layers, consisting ot' an undercut prismatic projection of outwardhv inclined sides in the center of the permanent layer from the inner edge thereof to a distance towards the outer rounded end ot the same but not reaching entirely thereto. and of a correspondingl recess in said removable layer, the sides ot the said projection and recess having rounded cooperative respective beads and grooves formed therein, lfor the purpose specified, said prismatic projection and said recess also heilig wider adjacent to the inner edges ot their layers and converging rearwardly thereof.

Signed at New York. in the county of New York and State ot New York this 28th day oi April, A. D. 1928.

FRANK TAGER. 

